Fans of Hapa Food Co.’s plate lunches, fresh poke and delicately chewy malasadas now have two locations where they can get a taste of the islands.
The celebrated Hawaiian eatery opened its second location on July 8, on Shea Boulevard just east of State Route 51. With a seating capacity of 44, this new spot is twice as large as its original restaurant on the southeast corner of Southern Avenue and Higley Road in Mesa.
“Having more seating was a big thing,” says Michael Zander, who owns Hapa with his wife, Leslie. “The Mesa restaurant was a converted yogurt shop, so it was small. We didn’t know what to expect when we opened.”
Zander refers to the larger-than-anticipated crowds that have flocked to his family-run fast-casual establishment since it opened in 2022, craving the legit ono grindz based on recipes from Leslie and her family of cooks, who are all from Hawaii.
The menu at the new spot is the same as the one in Mesa. It spans popular plates piled with proteins like chicken katsu or kalua pig flanked by the mandatory rice and mac salad along with sweet treats like guava cake and fresh malasadas filled with custard or ube.
Specials wax island nostalgia with Pulehu ribeye seasoned with Zander's father-in-law’s secret rub and served medium rare. A secret menu boasts hurricane chicken, Zander’s personal favorite, that’s crispy, topped with special sauce and seasoned with furikake. Customers in the know pair it with kalbi for a mixed plate. Zander estimates he serves this combo 50 to 60 times daily.
After a two-year search for a second location, the Zanders discovered the shop in a north Phoenix shopping plaza that offered a more centralized location.
“The response has been amazing… it’s been so busy,” Michael Zander says. “We prayed and felt like God led us to this location.”
The Zanders moved to the Valley four years ago from Washington, where they operated three successful Hapa Food Co. food trucks around Seattle, Zander's hometown.
Zander was introduced to island cuisine while working for the City of Seattle. He had a Polynesian crew who made him plate lunches for breakfast.
“It was the first time I had rice for breakfast,” Zander recalls. “That’s when I started to get acclimated.”
Leslie, his wife of 18 years, moved to Seattle from Hawaii over two decades ago. Hailing from a multigenerational family of cooks, Leslie opened his eyes even wider to her home state's dishes.
“I met my wife and it was on a whole different level,” Zander recalls.
Heeding what Zander says was a calling, the family moved to Arizona and brought their business with them. They felt operating a brick-and-mortar restaurant would be a better fit than food trucks. They set up shop in Mesa and the rest is history.
Hapa Food Co. opened the second location of its fast-casual Hawaiian eatery in North Phoenix on July 8.
Hapa Food Co.
Zander credits divine intervention with Hapa’s success and growth.
“He brought us out of a long struggle and we are able to take care of our kids now,” says Zander, referring to his and Leslie’s six children. “We give God the glory.”
They both go back to Hawaii often to visit family and friends — and to get clued in on current dishes, ingredients and recipes at locals’ favorite haunts. On a recent visit, he returned with a huli huli chicken recipe.
“I talk story with cooks and ask questions,” Zander says.
His favorite compliment is hearing customers say Hapa’s food reminds them of home, or that they just returned from vacation and their meal was just like what they experienced in Hawaii.
“Our goal is nostalgia, so when you eat our food it takes you home,” Zander says. “It’s like we’re going to your favorite plate lunch hole-in-the-wall spot, picking it up and putting it in the city.”
Hapa Food Co.
3375 E. Shea Blvd., C1235 E Southern Ave. #107, Mesa
